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MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

This educational program is brought to you by an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.

Nature HealsReconnecting to the World Around Us

Seljalandsfoss, Brianna Gohde (RCMG)

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Presentation Goals● Introduce the BiophilliaHypothesis

● Recognize the risks of the modern-day activities

● Understand the benefits of time spent outdoors

● Identify ways to engage with nature

Tree Frog, Brianna Gohde (RCMG)

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The Biophilia Hypothesis

Seljalandsfoss, Brianna Gohde (RCMG)

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Natural Connections● Historically vital for

human survival

○ Food & Shelter

○ Knowledge & Inspiration

○ Medicine & Religion

● Less necessary for human survival in modern times

Woods, David J (Flickr)

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● Biophilia: a love of life or living systems

● Humans have a biological need to connect with nature

○ Important for well-being (mental & physical)

○ Lack of nature encounters has negative health affects

Definition: Nature is the non man-made world (including water, air & earth; vegetation & animals) & all ecosystems within it

Biophilia Hypothesis

Walking through the greenery, Dickson Phua (Flickr)

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Research Results● 40+ years of research

○ Complicated

○ On-going

● Identified relationships between human health & nature

○ Changes to brain activity (Attention Restoration Theory)

○ Changes to physical response(Stress Reduction Theory)

○ Innate fear of nature (Biophobia)

Dandelion, Sue Von Bank (RCMG)

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Seljalandsfoss, Brianna Gohde (RCMG)

Impact of Modern-Day Life

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● The Brain Stem (1)

○ Controls autonomic body functions

(heart rate, breathing, body temp & balance)

● The Limbic System (2)

○ Responds to risk (Fight, flight or freeze)

○ Can control the Reptilian Complex

● The Neocortex (3)

○ Manages all higher-level thinking

○ Can control the Limbic System

Note: The triune brain theory is outdated but gives a useful if simplified analogy about brain functions

Triune Brain Theory

Brain, OpenClipart-Vectors (Pixabay)

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A Mostly Indoor Life

● Americans spend 93% of their time indoors

○ Often sedentary

○ Artificial light

○ Recirculating air

○ Limited microbial diversity

Silhouette, Natalia Medd (Flickr)

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Mental Impact● Constant focus (directed attention)

● Overworked neocortex

○ Leads to mental fatigue

○ Limits creative thinking

○ Hinders memory

○ Reduces effectiveness of rest

● Overactive limbic system○ Hyperfocuses on perceived threat

○ Increases of stress-related

hormones, cortisol & adrenaline

An all-day-in-pyjamas kinda day, eltpics (Flickr)

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Physical Impact

● Cortisol (stress hormone)

○ Hinders immune systems

○ Lowers metabolism

● Adrenaline (stress hormone)

○ Increases heart rate & blood pressure

○ Constricts blood vessels

○ Creates muscle tension

● Lack of physical activity

○ Decrease of muscle & bone mass

○ Slows metabolism

Couch Potato, ladybugdiscovery (Flickr)

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Societal Impact● Focus on the self

○ Creates emotional disconnect

○ Less empathy for other living things (e.g., at-risk species)

○ Decreased value of natural spaces

● Focus on the immediate threat

○ Fewer sustainable behaviors

○ Less long-term planning

Deforested, Peter Blanchard (Flickr)

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Seljalandsfoss, Brianna Gohde (RCMG)

Benefits of Time in Nature

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Mental Impact● Encourages soft/wandering focus

(involuntary attention)

● Restores neocortex(Attention Restoration Theory)

○ Improves concentration

○ Increases memory

○ Boosts creativity

● Calms limbic system

○ Decreases stress hormones

(Stress Reduction Theory)

○ Increases control of emotions

○ Lowers risk of depression

Meditating, premasagar (Flickr)

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Physical Impact● Reduces physical stress response

(Stress Reduction Theory)

○ Lowers heart rate, lowers blood

pressure & relaxes muscles

○ Restores normal metabolic &

hormonal activity

● Improves immune system

○ Reduces respiratory stresses

○ Drives vitamin D creation

● Encourages physical movement

○ Builds muscle & bone

○ Improves balance & stability

Relax, Kathrin & Stefan Marks (Flickr)

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Societal Impact● Develops empathetic thinking

○ Encourages curiosity & learning

○ Deepens relationships with other living creatures & systems

○ Increases environmental awareness

● Drives wider awareness

○ Builds environmentally-friendly behaviors & habits

○ Inspires long-term planning

Safe place to land, Daníel Einarsson (Flickr)

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Children in Nature● Builds biophilia

● Normalizes physical activity

● Restores focus & self-control

● Encourages curiosity & learning

○ Free-association thinking

○ Science (e.g., Biology, Physics & Phenology)

○ Independence

Children walking, MaBraS (Pixabay)

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Nature for Special Needs● Provides less formal environment

○ Less directed focus

○ More hands-on activities

○ Reduces stress

○ Helps regulate emotions

● Can benefit people with

○ Cognitive disabilities

○ Dementia & Alzheimer’s disease

○ Some mental illnesses (e.g., ADHA, anxiety & depression)

Earth Day, Bunches and Bits ,Karina (Flickr)

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Seljalandsfoss, Brianna Gohde (RCMG)

Reconnecting with Nature

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Connection Goals● Identify natural spaces near you

● Immerse yourself

○ Let your attention wander

○ Engage as many senses as possible

● Guidelines○ 15-30 minutes daily (2 hours/week)

○ Pair with physical activity

○ Get some sun (15 min/day)

○ Be safe

Meditate, Christian Sicam (Flickr)

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Engage your senses: Sight● Look around you

○ Bold colors (flowers AND leaves)

○ Bright sunlight & deep shadows

○ Competing textures

○ Different sizes

● Get to know unfamiliar shapes & sources

Rainbow, Vargson (Flickr)

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Engage your senses: Sound● Listen to the world

around you○ Wind (through grasses or

leaves)

○ Water (tides, rivers, rain)

○ Wildlife (Birds, insects & other animals)

● Learn what sounds come from each source

River, Joe Coyle (Flickr)

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Engage your senses: Smell● Follow your nose

○ Blooming flowers

○ Soil after the rain

○ Cut grass

○ Water

● Notice when the smells around you change & try to figure out why

Ocean Backdrop, marneejill (Flickr)

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Engage your senses: Touch● Feel the connection

○ Plants (grasses, leaves & mosses)

○ Soil (clay, sand & rock) & Water

○ Textures (smooth or rough,

soft or scratchy)

○ Temperatures (hot, warm, cool, or cold)

● Experience how textures change over the season

Pussy Willow, Carla421 (Flickr)

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Engage your senses: Taste

● Enjoy the flavors○ Fresh-picked

vegetables & fruit

○ Herbs & spices

○ Edible flowers

● Cultivating edible plants brings nature to your dinner table

Fresh Tomatoes, Tony Cosentino (Flickr)

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Suggested Activities● Visit local & state parks

● Grow plants

○ Houseplants, vegetables, flowers

● Meet nature○ Identify plants & wildlife

(including “weeds”)

○ Set up a bird feeder or aquarium

● Join an outdoor activity

○ Hiking

○ Camping

○ Fishing

Tree-Lined Avenue, pixel2013 (Pixabay)

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Virtual Connections ● Positive impacts can happen

without direct exposure

○ Less effective

○ More accessible

● Use apps, videos & images

○ Virtual tours

○ Natural soundscapes

○ Documentaries

○ Picture books

Cat watching videos, a_ey (Flickr)

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Share the benefits● Give plants to friends

○ Gift vegetables

○ Divide houseplants

○ Create a bouquet

● Share pictures & stories

● Invite others to join you

Easter Bouquet, Gary H (Flickr)

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Seljalandsfoss, Brianna Gohde (RCMG)

Nature Heals Recap

Title, Author (Source)

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Presentation Recap● Get outside wherever you

are & however you can

○ Restores mental performance

○ Increases immune system performance

○ Encourages empathetic awareness to the larger world

Tree Frog, Brianna Gohde (RCMG)

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